Orange Chicken Recipe {Panda Express Copycat} - TipBuzz (2024)

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This Chinese Orange Chicken is made with crispy fried chicken coated in a sticky orange chicken sauce. Just like Panda Express but even better!

Orange Chicken Recipe {Panda Express Copycat} - TipBuzz (1)

Orange chicken is one of the most popular Chinese dishes, and for good reason! Panda Express made this dish famous, and it’s on most takeout menus alongside dishes like General Tso’s Chicken.

Fortunately, it’s fairly easy to make homemade orange chicken without the restaurant price tag, plus there are fewer calories than the Panda Express version. We’re simply battering cubed chicken thighs and frying until crispy before coating in a sticky homemade sauce with tangy citrus flavors!

Table of Contents

Ingredients

How to Make Orange Chicken

Tips for Making Orange Chicken

Healthier Variations

What to Serve with Orange Chicken

More Chinese dishes:

Chinese Orange Chicken

Ingredients

Here’s what you’ll need to make it:

  • Chicken: I recommend boneless, skinless chicken thighs for this recipe as they’re moister and more flavorful. Chicken breasts also work but require extra care to avoid overcooking.
  • Batter/marinade for the chicken:
    • All-purpose flour
    • Cornstarch
    • Salt and pepper
    • Egg
    • Vegetable oil such as canola, sunflower or peanut oil
  • Orange chicken sauce:
    • Orange: You’ll be juicing and zesting a large orange for this recipe
    • Soy sauce: low-sodium recommended
    • Vinegar: rice vinegar is best or white vinegar
    • Brown sugar
    • Garlic: freshly minced is best but garlic powder as a substitute
    • Cornstarch
    • Red pepper flakes: optional if you want some heat

Orange Chicken Recipe {Panda Express Copycat} - TipBuzz (2)

How to Make Orange Chicken

Marinate the chicken: Start by cutting the chicken into bite-size pieces, or 1-inch cubes. Then make the batter. Whisk together flour, cornstarch, salt and pepper in a bowl. Then whisk in the egg, oil and water until smooth (the consistency should resemble thin pancake batter). Add the chicken pieces to the batter until nicely coated. Cover and chill for 30 minutes to marinate (or just 10 minutes if you’re in a rush).

Fry the chicken: Using a medium saucepan or deep fryer, heat the oil to 350°F (177°C). While you’re waiting, line a plate with paper towels and set aside a slotted spoon or mesh strainer. Deep fry the chicken pieces in batches of 8-10 pieces at a time until golden, about 1-2 minutes. Then remove to the plate, covering with foil to keep warm.

Make the orange chicken sauce: Add the orange juice, orange zest, brown sugar, vinegar, soy sauce and garlic to a small saucepan. Raise the heat to medium and cook until it reaches a low boil. Whisk the cornstarch and water into a slurry and into the saucepan. Stir until it starts thickening and turning glossy, anywhere from 30 seconds to several minutes.

Toss with the sauce: Toss the fried chicken in the sauce to coat, and a nice glaze will form. Garnish with optional sesame seeds, green onions and red pepper flakes (for a kick).

Orange Chicken Recipe {Panda Express Copycat} - TipBuzz (3)

Tips for Making Orange Chicken

  • To get crispy chicken, the oil should be 350˚F (177˚C) before frying and remain above 300˚F (149˚C) at all times. Use a thermometer to monitor, as the temperature will usually drop after you add the chicken.
  • Fry the chicken in batches to avoid crowding the pot or deep fryer and get even cooking. Cover the fried chicken with aluminum foil to keep warm.
  • When thickening the sauce, make a cornstarch-water slurry so it dissolves easily. If the sauce seems too thick, you can whisk in a tablespoon or two of water. If it’s too thin, let it bubble for an extra minute or two to thicken further.
  • Orange chicken is great to make ahead of time including for meal prep.

Healthier Variations

Baked Orange Chicken: Instead of deep-frying the chicken, you can bake it in the oven for fewer calories. Place the battered chicken pieces on a baking sheet and bake at 400˚F (204˚C) for 20-25 minutes until golden (slightly less if using chicken breast meat).

Stir-fried Orange Chicken: Skip the battering and frying steps altogether. Pat dry the cubed chicken with paper towels to remove excess moisture. Season with salt and pepper. Then stir fry with 1 tablespoon of oil in a hot skillet until lightly browned, about 3-5 minutes.

What to Serve with Orange Chicken

  • Steamed rice
  • Bok choy or broccoli
  • Beef chow mein

More Chinese dishes:

  • Lemon Chicken
  • Sesame Chicken
  • Sweet and Sour Chicken

More Chinese recipes

Orange Chicken Recipe {Panda Express Copycat} - TipBuzz (4)

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Chinese Orange Chicken

This Chinese Orange Chicken is made with crispy fried chicken coated in a sticky orange chicken sauce.

Prep Time: 15 minutes mins

Cook Time: 15 minutes mins

Total Time: 30 minutes mins

Servings: 4 servings

Ingredients

Chicken

  • 1 pound boneless skinless chicken thighs, about 6 thighs, or 3 chicken breasts*
  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup cornstarch
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 ¼ cups water
  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil, canola, sunflower etc.
  • vegetable oil , for frying depending on the size of your pan

Sauce

  • 1 large orange, you'll need the juice and zest
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce
  • ¼ cup rice vinegar, or white vinegar
  • ½ cup brown sugar, packed
  • 2 large garlic cloves, minced, or 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch, mixed with 1 tbsp water

Garnishes (optional)

  • sesame seeds
  • green onions, chopped
  • red pepper flakes

Instructions

Chicken

  • Cut chicken into 1-inch cubes.

  • In a medium bowl, mix together the flour, cornstarch, salt and pepper. Add the egg, oil and water, whisking until smooth.

  • Add the chicken cubes to the mixture, making sure the chicken gets thoroughly coated. Cover and chill for 30 minutes in the fridge. (If you're in a hurry, 10 minutes will do.)

  • In a medium saucepan or deep fryer, add 2 inches of oil and heat to 350˚F (177˚C). Line a plate with paper towels and set aside.

  • Add the marinated chicken cubes in batches of about 10-15 pieces, shaking off excess batter if needed. Deep fry for 2-3 minutes until golden, turning halfway through with a slotted spoon for even browning.**

  • Remove to the plate and cover with foil to keep warm while you make the sauce.

Orange Chicken Sauce

  • To a medium saucepan, add orange juice, orange zest, soy sauce, vinegar, brown sugar, and garlic.

  • Place the saucepan over medium heat and bring to a low boil. Carefully taste a few drops and adjust sugar, soy sauce and vinegar to suit your preference.

  • Mix the cornstarch and water in a cup to make a slurry and pour into the sauce. Stir constantly until the sauce coats the back of a spoon. (This can take as little as 30 seconds or as long as several minutes.)

  • Add the fried chicken and toss until the sauce coats it thoroughly.

  • Garnish with optional sesame seeds, green onions and red pepper flakes. Serve immediately.

Notes

  • * Chicken thighs are juicier and more flavorful. Chicken breasts will also work, but dry out more easily so watch carefully.
  • ** To get crispy chicken, maintain the oil temperature as close as possible to 350°F. Any lower and the chicken will be greasy. Any higher and the outside will crispen too quickly before the inside is done. Also avoid crowding the pot/deep fryer.
  • Make Ahead: You can make this dish one day ahead of time and reheat in the microwave. It's also well-suited to meal prep.
  • Make it gluten-free: Substitute gluten-free flour and gluten-free soy sauce or coconut aminos.

Nutrition Facts

Chinese Orange Chicken

Serving Size

6 oz

Amount per Serving

Calories

445

% Daily Value*

Fat

10

g

15

%

Saturated Fat

5

g

25

%

Sodium

547

mg

23

%

Potassium

457

mg

13

%

Carbohydrates

61

g

20

%

Fiber

2

g

8

%

Sugar

31

g

34

%

Net Carbs

59

g

118

%

Protein

27

g

54

%

Vitamin A

207

IU

4

%

Vitamin C

25

mg

30

%

Calcium

66

mg

7

%

Iron

3

mg

17

%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Please read our nutrition disclaimer.

Author: TipBuzz

Course: dinner, Main Course

Cuisine: Asian, Chinese

Keyword: chinese orange chicken, orange chicken

Did you make this recipe? Leave a comment below!

Recipe tools:

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Orange Chicken Recipe {Panda Express Copycat} - TipBuzz (2024)

FAQs

What is orange chicken made of at Panda Express? ›

Ingredients: dark meat chicken, water, sugar, distilled vinegar, modified food starch, corn starch, potato starch, contains less than 2% of: wheat, orange extract, caramel color, salt, garlic, phosphoric acid, rice wine, sesame oil. *The dish uses a proprietary batter and sauce.

What type of rice does Panda Express use? ›

Long Grain Rice – If you're going for fluffy, not sticky, then long grain is the way to go for fried rice like Panda Express! Medium grain or jasmine are okay substitutes to use, but short grain should be avoided.

What is orange chicken made of in China? ›

This Chinese Orange Chicken is made with boneless skinless chicken breast, cut into bite-size pieces, dredged, and then fried until golden and crispy. The orange sauce is divine! It is a sweet orange sauce made with orange juice, vinegar, garlic, sugar, soy sauce, ginger, red chili flakes, and orange zest.

What is in Kung Pao chicken Panda Express? ›

A Szechwan-inspired dish with chicken, peanuts and vegetables, finished with chili peppers.

Why did Panda Express stop selling orange chicken? ›

They have said this was due to the entree being a limited time item, but the popularity should make them change their minds. Now, millions of people will not be able to have a full meal other than sides at Panda Express. The people are outraged as seen in the comments on various social media accounts.

What to use instead of orange juice for orange chicken? ›

Rather than using orange juice and orange zest, we use rehydrated dried aged tangerine peels to impart a distinctive zesty and citrus flavor to the dish. If you can find dried tangerine peels in your neighborhood Asian market, definitely grab a package. They stay good forever.

Does Panda Express use MSG in any of their food? ›

From world-famous orange chicken to delicious chow mein, Panda Express defines American-Chinese cuisine with bold flavors and fresh ingredients. Panda Express entrees and sides contain zero grams of trans fat per serving and adds no MSG in their food.

Is Panda Chow Mein or fried rice healthier? ›

Or the nutrition side of things? Fried rice has 570 calories (extra calories are from fat) and 900mg sodium. However, chow mien has fewer calories of 400, but a huge amount of sodium 1,060mg! Another thing that you could look at would be the number of vegetables in each dish perhaps.

Who owns Panda Express? ›

Andrew and Peggy Cherng are cofounders of the $3.5 billion (sales) Chinese fast food chain, Panda Express, which has over 2,200 locations. The Cherngs also run famed ramen house, Ippudo, in Berkeley, CA and have investments in chains that sell everything from pizza, salad and cheesecake.

What is the orange chicken sauce made of? ›

How to make the orange chicken sauce. The orange sauce is made from a mixture of the orange juice and zest, sugar, soy sauce, garlic, ginger and rice vinegar. This is bubbled up in the wok until slightly thickened. The chicken is then added back in, and tossed in the sauce until fully coated.

What ethnicity is orange chicken from? ›

The most famous dish at Panda Express is the Orange Chicken. Inspired by flavors of the Hunan Province in China, Chef Andy Kho developed it in 1987, and it has been a consistent part of the menu ever since.

What is the difference between General Tso's and orange chicken? ›

What is the difference between orange chicken and General Tso? Orange chicken is crispy fried with a fruity, sweet, and tangy sauce that's caramelized into a glaze. General Tso is stir-fried in a sweet, sour, and spicy umami sauce.

What is the most ordered food at Panda Express? ›

A representative from Panda's PR team said that the five top-selling entrées at the restaurant are (drumroll please): Beijing Beef, Broccoli Beef, Honey Walnut Shrimp, Mushroom Chicken, and, of course, the Original Orange Chicken—the dish that Panda Express is credited with inventing.

How is Panda Express chicken so soft? ›

Why is Panda Express chicken so soft? Chinese restaurants use a cooking technique called velveting. One method is to marinate the meat with cornstarch to create a moist, velvety soft texture. Another method is to coat the meat in baking soda for about 20 to 30 minutes, rinse, and use in the recipe as directed.

What is the difference between orange chicken and kung pao chicken? ›

What's the difference between Kung Pao chicken and orange chicken? Orange chicken is made with, well, oranges! A combination of orange juice and zest, to be exact. It's certainly stickier and sweeter than Kung Pao chicken!

Is orange chicken from Panda Express unhealthy? ›

How Healthy Is Panda Express Orange Chicken? Not very. This fan favorite is one of the highest-calorie, highest-sugar options on the Panda Express menu. One serving of this dish has 490 calories, 23g total fat, 5g saturated fat, 51g carbohydrate, 25g protein, and 820mg sodium (9).

What is the Panda Express Beyond orange chicken made of? ›

Beyond's trademarked The Original Orange Chicken is made from plant-based protein instead of traditional animal meat. The dish is wok-tossed in "Panda's signature sweet, spicy and tangy orange sauce" and reportedly has a crunchy texture, according to Panda Express.

Is the orange chicken at Panda Express vegetarian? ›

Vegan options at Panda Express are solid. Bring on the meatless orange chicken! Panda Express has been hard at work getting vegan options on the menu now that it's ramping up plant-based offerings like so many other fast-food chains.

Is there a difference between orange chicken and sweet and sour chicken? ›

The chicken itself is also different, as orange chicken is made with dark meat chicken ( chicken thighs) and sweet and sour chicken is made with chicken breasts and fried in a batter that yields a puffy and airy crust.

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